Package



April 18, 1961 v. J. LE GENDRE PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3. 1957 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 1951 v. J. LE GENDRE 80, 44

PACKAGE Filed Dec. 3. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V/CTOR J. LE GE/VD/PE ATTORNEY Unite 2,980,244 PACKAGE Victor J. Le 'Gendre, Mountainside, N.J., assignor to The present invention relates to the packaging of comparatively delicate articles and particularly to the packaging of electronic instruments and electronic tubes. The package of the invention is particularly suitable for the shipment and handling of relatively small articles having large mass such as magnetron beam switching tubes fixed in cylindrical magnet mountings.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 530,318 filed August 24, 1955, now aban: doned.

Tubes of the magnetron type are required to operate accurately and with precision. In practice, it has been found that poorly packed tubes often suffer shocks which disturb the magnetic field or the more delicate tube assembly and thereby seriously alter the operation of the tube and its output characteristics. The same problems present themselves in the packaging of all types of electronic equipment.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved package for delicate and sensitive apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved package for electronic equipment and particularly for such equipment which may be relatively small but may have large mass.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive package for delicate electronic tubes sensitive to damage by careless handling.

In brief, a package embodying the principles of the invention includes a strip of cushioning material comprising a plurality of serially connected panels which are adapted to be folded upon each other in accordion-like fashion. Two selected adjacent panels are provided with apertures in which an articles to be packaged is adapted to be seated. When the article is thus seated and the strip of cushioning material is folded, other panels adjacent to the apertured panels bear against the article and cushion it against shock. The folded strip carrying the article to be packaged is secured within a suitable packing container, box, or the like.

The invention is described in greater detail by reference to the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of prepared wrapper for packaging magnet mounted electronic tubes;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the wrapper as ready to receive the tube assembly to be packaged;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the wrapper folded about the tube assembly and ready to be boxed;

Fig. 4 is a section view on line 4-4 of Fig. .3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view broken away of the final package with the cover shown in dotted line phantom view; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a package embodying the invention and a piece of delicate electronic equipment contained therein.

Referring to the drawings, a rectangular strip 10 of cushioning material, preferably cardboard of the corrugated type, of selected length for the purpose intended, is preliminarily prepared by transverse scarfs 11 arranged for alternate bending of the strip 10 to provide a collapsible accordion-like assembly. Those scarfs 11 respectively define a transverse rectangular spacer strip 12 and a plurality of rectangular expandable panels extending in both directions from the panel 12. The panels 13 are of States Patent 0 substantially the same size and dimension when folded together in order to fit snugly in compressed condition in a container for shipment. The panel 12 has a width less than the diameter of the tube assembly for gripping purposes. The tube for which the invention is specifically devised is a beam switching tube of the type mounted in a cylindrical magnet 14 and therefore particularly susceptible to damage in transit or handling in the field. In the present instance, the magnet 14 with its enclosed electronic tube is shown provided with protecting caps 14 respectively snugly fitted over the magnet ends, though broadly considered, the novel packaging is for any magnet mounted electronic tube or other delicate apparatus.

For retaining the tube assembly in gripped supported position, the two panels 13, extending respectively from the sides of the strip 12, are each formed with an aperture 15 having a length substantially equal to the length of the magnet 14, or, in this case, this length plus the added thickness of the two caps 14'. Illustratively, each aperture 15 is of rectangular shape having a width less than the diameter of the magnet 14 to permit a portion of each side of the magnet to pass through its aperture. The two apertures 15 are disposed substantially centrally of the panels and in alignment when the strip 12 is folded for symmetrical seating of the magnet. Thus, with the tube assembly seated in the apertures 15 and all of the panels 13 folded to package form, the circular ends of the magnet abut the ends of the aperture while portions of the magnet sides are in contact with the adjacent folded panels 13' for cushioned gripping. As so mounted, the tube assembly is spaced both endwise from the panel edges and transversely from both the strip 12 and the folds of the adjacent panels 13' and 13". Thus, both the top and prong ends of the tube are out of contact with the wrapper and also with the inner walls of the box 16 in which the wrapped tube is to be packaged. Likewise, the mounted tube is spaced from the strip 12 and from the top of the box 16 so that in finally boxed condition no part of the tube is in contact with any part of the box or with the enveloping Wrapper.

The package is assembled by seating the magnet 14 in the apertures 15 and alternately folding the panels on the .scarfed lines to give an accordion effect with the several panels resiliently seating one against the other and with the wrapper corrugations generally running parallel to the axis of the mounted tube to hold the magnet portion of the tube assembly in a firmly gripped but resilient contact in the apertures 15.

The complete assembly is generally of rectangular shape for ready placement within the bottom portion of the shipping box 16 whereupon the box cover can be telescoped to final closed position with the row of panels 15 folded upon each other and held against expansion. The panels thus fill the space between the packaged article and at least two sides of the box and the package is ready for shipment or other processing.

A package embodying the principles of the invention is also well suited for use with articles or pieces of apparatus other than the electron tube described above. For example, the package could be used with electronic instruments with or without electron tubes, delicate mechanical apparatus, and the like. Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which an electronic instrument may be packaged according to the invention. One type of electronic apparatus 20 as shown in Fig. 6 includes a metal frame 22 on which various electronic components are mounted. Such components may include a magnetron tube 24 of the type described above, other types of electron tubes (not shown), and the usual electronic circuit components, such as resistors, capacitors, and the like (not shown). The package for the electronic apparatus 20 includes a strip of cushioning material 26 which includes a central rectangular spacer strip 28 from which extend a plurality of panels 30 which are adapted to be folded in accordion fashion. The panels 34) immediately adjacent to the spacer strip include generally rectangular apertures 32 which are centrally located in the panels and which are aligned with each other when the panels are parallel to each other. As shown in Fig. 6, the electronic instrument is secured in the package with its frame mounted and supported in the apertures in the panels adjacent to the rectangular spacer strip. The principles by' which protection is afforded to the instrument are the same as those which apply to the packaged electron tube shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

It is clear that, since a package embodying the principle ofthe invention may be used to contain substantially all types of delicate apparatus, the apertures in the panels which receive and secure the packaged article need not be rectangular, but may have any suitable shape.

It will now be apparent that the invention provides a novel package shipping unit for magnet mounted tubes or other delicate apparatus of large or small mass, the package being inexpensive and providing effective support without requiring supplemental fastening devices. package, by its construction, provides an efiective cushion between the packaged article and the sides of a box or other receptacle in which the article is to be shipped. it is also to be noted that the package assembly within the box is self-expandable when pressed into place in the box, and so resists any shock force tending to displace the assembly relative to its container.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaged shipping unit, comprising the combination of an electronic tube, a cylindrical magnet mounted about said tube, a single strip of cushioning material folded to form an expandable row of panels, means located in two juxtaposed panels for seating said magnet to support said tube out of contact with said panels, and a box holding the panel row in unexpanded condition, the panels of said strip of cushioning material occupying the space between said tube and the sides of said box.

2. A packaged shipping unit, comprising the combination of an electronic tube, a cylindrical magnet mounted about said tube with the tube ends projecting, a strip of corrugated material folded to form an expandable row of panels, each of said panels having an area greater than said tube, two juxtaposed panels respectively having apertures dimensioned to seat about the sides and ends of said magnet to grip the magnet and thereby support the tube out of contact with the panels, and a box holding the panel row in unexpanded condition with further panels in said row folded in positions adjacent to said apertures engaging the magnet, the panels of the strip of corrugated material filling the space between the tube and the box whereby the tube is held spaced from the panels and the box.

3. A packaged shipping unit, comprising the combination of an electronic tube, a cylindrical magnet mounted about said tube with the tube ends projecting, a strip of corrugated material folded to form an expandable row of panels, two juxtaposed panels respectively having apertures centrally disposed and dimensioned to seat the sides and ends of the magnet within the thickness of the panel, whereby the tube is supported out of contact with the panels, and a box holding the panel row in unexpanded condition, the panels of said strip of corrugated material occupying the space between said tube and said box.

4. A packaged shipping unit comprising the combination of an electronic tube, a cylindrical magnet mounted about said tube with the tube ends projecting, two juxtaposed panels of corrugated material each having an aperture, resilient cushioning means abutting one side of each panel and aligned with its aperture, said apertures being aligned and dimensioned to permit a portion of the magnet to pass through each aperture to seat against said resilient cushioning means, a box receiving said panels, and other cushioning means filling the space between said box and said panels, whereby the tube is held out of contact with the panels and the box.

5. A package for electronic apparatus comprising a strip of cushioning material folded to form an expandable row of panels, and a box holding said panels in unexpanded condition and folded in contact with each other, two juxtaposed panels of said row having apertures for seating opposite sides of said apparatus and for support ing said apparatus with an air space almost completely surrounding said apparatus, and the balance of the panels of said row filling the space between said juxtaposed panels and said box.

6. A package according to claim 5 wherein the material is corrugated.

7. A package according to claim 5 wherein said support means comprises panels which are wider than the length of electronic apparatus contained within said package.

8. A package according to claim 5 wherein said support means comprises juxtaposed panels which have a length which is greater than the diameter of the supported apparatus.

9. A packaged shipping unitcomprising an electronic device including an electronic tube, a strip of corrugated material folded to form an expandable row of panels, each of said panels having an area greater than the portion of said device which it contacts, two juxtaposed panels respectively having apertures dimensioned to seat about the sides and ends of said device to grip said device and to be supported out of contact with said panels, and a box holding the panel row in unexpanded F condition with other panels in said row folded in positions adjacent to said apertures engaging said device and filling the space between said device and at least two sides of said box whereby said device is held spaced from the panels and the box.

10. A package comprising a strip of cushioning material including a plurality of panels adapted to be folded on each other generally in accordion fashion to provide a series of abutting panels, two adjacent ones of said panels having apertures for receiving an article to be contained in said package, other panels of said strip being adapted to bear against an article secured in said apertures, a separating panel being provided between said two adjacent panels, and a container in which said strip is adapted to be retained in folded condition with the panels filling the space between said article and at least two sides of said container.

11. A package for delicate electronic apparatus comprising a strip of cushioning material including a central panel having a pair of edges and two rows of foldable panels, one of said rows extending from each of said edges of said central panel, the foldable panel in each row immediately adjacent said central panel having an aperture spaced from said central panel, electronic apparatus supported in said apertures, and container means enclosing said strip and said apparatus and holding said foldable panels in folded condition so that said foldable panels are in contact with each other and fill the space between the apparatus and at least two sides of said container with two of said foldable panels being in direct contact with said apparatus through said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,515,638 Wason Nov. 18, 1924 2,299,355 Stolpman Oct. 20, 1942 2,665,804 Koester Jan. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 276,011 Switzerland Sept 1, 1951 643,196 France May 15, 1928 

